Pulsator for milker



March 7 1967* 1..... SCHILLING ETAL 3,307,585

PULSATOR FOR MILKER Original Filed'Aug. 6. 1962 2 Shees-Shefl l J M, md-55g wu; M @fior/agg@ L. J. scHlLLlNG ETAL 3,307,585

PULSATOR FOR MILKER March 7, 1967 original-Filed Aug. e, 1962 2sheets-sheet United States Patent 3,307,585 PULSATOR FR MILKER LorellJohn Schilling and Orville (lanes, both of Galesville, Wis., assignorsto Schilling Electric Co., a corporation of Wisconsin Originalapplication Ang. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 214,994, now Patent No. 3,236,208,dated Feb. 22, 1966. Divided and this application May 24, 1965, Ser. No.458,001 Claims. (Cl. 137-625.66)

This application is a division of our application Serial No. 214,994,led August 6, 1962, and assigned to the assignee of this invention.

This invention is concerned with a pulsator for a milker and moreparticularly with an electrically controlled vacuum operated pulsator.

A milker pulsator is a timed valving device which controls the ultimateapplication of vacuum and atmospheric air to a milker unit. In aspecific milker commonly used in the United States, the milker includesfour teat cups each comprising a rigid outer shell and a flexibleintlation or liner. A continuous vacuum is established in the interiorof the inflation which is applied to the cows teat. The space betweenthe inflation and shell is alternately evacuated, opening the intlationor drawing it away from the teat, and vented to atmosphere,collapsingthe inflation about the teat providing a rest period and massaging theteat wall.

A pulsator widely used comprises a control valve that alternatelyconnects the teat cup shells with the source of vacuum or atmosphere,and a timing valve which establishes the position of the control valve.Movement of the timing valve is controlled by a small bleeder passagewith a needle valve control. In most instances, the pulsator is designedto provide equal periods of vacuum and air in the teat c-up shells. Therate of operation of the pulsator may be varied by a needle valve in anair bleeder passage associated with the timing portion of the pulsator.Further details may be found in Thomas Patent 2,646,058, issued July 21,1953. Y

It has been determined that diterent cows respond more readily todii-ferent milking rates and in some cases to unequal active and restperiods. For example, a hard milker will deliver more milk with a slowermilking rate than with a fast one. An easy milker can be milked out morerapidly by using a faster milking rate and by increasing the ratio ofthe active to the rest period, without risk of damage to the animal. Itis impractical, however, to adjust the rate of operation of a pulsatorof the type illustrated in the Thomas patent, for the differentcharacteristics of the cows of a herd.

An important object of this invention is the provision of an improvedelectrically controlled pulsator which makes available to the operatorseveral different milking rates and also provides for adjustment of thetiming ratio of each pulsator cycle.

One feature of the invention is the provision in a milker of pulsatormeans including a source of continuous vacu-um, a sour-ce of alternatingvacuum and air, a valve at the milker having a control portion and avalved passage responsive thereto, means connecting the valved passagewith the source of continuous vacuum and means connecting the controlportion of the valve with the source of alternating vacuum and air tooperate the valve in the passage.

A further feature is that the pulsator valve includes a valve body witha ow passage therethrough, a control portion having a diaphragm formingone wall thereof and a valve member mounted on said diaphragm. Stillanother feature is that the diaphragm assembly is readily removable fromthe valve body.

Yet a further feature is that the pulsator has a body 31,307,585Patented Mar. 7, 1967 ICC with a cavity therein for connection with theteat cups of the rnilker. Vacuum and air inlets are connected with thecavity through passages including a pair of opposed valve seats. A valveoperated by a control diaphragm is movable between said valve seats inresponse to a control pressure applied to said diaphragm.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of the pulsator valvehaving an air bleeder inlet passage to the milker with an orifice membertherein, together with means for cleaning said orilice.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the following specification and from the drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system embodying theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic illustration of a pulsator timer;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section of an electrically operated control valveused in the system;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section through the pulsator valve of theinvention; and

FIGURE 5 is a broken section taken generally along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

Modern milking installations are generally one of two basic types. In astanchion barn the cows are held in the stalls and the milker units arecarried from animal to animal at milking time. Where bucket milkers areused, -a single vacuum line extends through the stall area, generallyabove the heads of the stalls. The buckets of milk are emptied into cansor a tank between each cow. /1 carry-away milking system may also beused in a stanchion barn, if a milk line is extended through the milkingarea. In la parlor milker, the milking equipment stays at the stall orpair of stalls with which it is used. The cows themselves come to themilking stall or station. The problems of providing centrally controlledelectrical pulsations for milking systems are somewhat diierentdepending on the nature of the milker installation.

Y Turning now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, atimer 15 provides a plurality of pulsator control signals connectedthrough a cable 16 with pulsator control units 17 or 18 which arelocated at milking stations throughout the milking area, as the stallsof a milking parlor.V Briefly pulsator 'selectors 17 are connected withra source of vacuum as pipeline 20 and incorporate an electricallycontrolled valve, responsive to a selected signal from timer 15,providing alternate vacuum and atmospheric pressure in a control hose21. A continuous vacuum from vacuum line 20 is provided in hose 22. Bothhoses 21 and 22 are connected with a pulsator valve on the milker unit,as will appear. Control units 18 a-re of the type more fully disclosedin Schilling et al. application, Serial No. 166,129, tiled January 15,1962, now Patent 3,115,116. The hose 24 is connected with a vacuum line12, hose 21' provides a valved alternate vacuum and atmospheric pressureand hose 22 provides continuous vacuum.

A milker unit 25 illustrates diagrammatically the desired connections. Ateat cup assembly 26 (of which there are four) includes a rigid outershell 26a having a lieXible inner liner or inflation 27 connected withthe nipple on the lid of the milker. The pulsator control valve 28,mounted on the lid, is connected with control hose 21 and vacuum hose22. The alternate vacuum and air are connected from pulsator 28 throughhose 29 to the teat cup shell 26a, A milk hose 30 is connected with -anevacuated milk line or with a suitable evacuated milk receiver.

Pulsator timer 15 is illustrated schematically in FIG- URE 2. A motor 32is connected through leads 33 with a suitable electrical source, lasvolts, A.C., and drives a shaft 34 carrying a series of timer cams 35,36, 37 and s3. Each of the timer cams has associated therewith a switch,as 35a, 36a, 37a and 38a respectively. The switches are closed andopened alternately by the associated motor driven cam to provide timingpulses at different rates. For example, timing cam 35 mighty provide acontrol rate of 44 cycles per minute, cam 36 a rate of 55 cycles perminute and cam 37 a rate of 66 cycles per minute. Cam 38 has six stepsas does cam 37, but is made of two portions which are angularlyadjustable with respect to each other so that the width of the teeth andthe notches between them may be varied. This permits the establishmentof an increased active milking period. Cable 16 carries wires from eachof the switches and a common return wire 16a throughout the milkingarea.

As a milker apparatus 25 is attached to an animal to be milked, theoperator sets pulsator control unit 17 for the desired pulsator speed tomilk the cow. In the control unit 17 a solenoid valve is actuated by thetiming pulses from the timer 1S to provide alternate air and vacuum incontrol hose 21. This control vacuum is applied to pulsator 28 where itactuates a valve that alternately applies vacuum and yair to the teatcup shell 26a of the milker. The construction and operation of thesevalves will be described below.

Turning now to FIGURE 3, the construction of pulsator selector 17 isillustrated. A nipple 4) is connected to vacuum pipeline and has mountedon the end thereof a block or base 4i carrying a solenoid valve 42 and aselector switch 43. A vacuum nipple 44 extends downwardly from thebottom of base 41 and is connected through cavity 45 with nipple 4t) andvacuum line 20. A vacuum passage 47 extends upwardly through base 41 tosolenoid valve 42 and is closed by valve member 48 when the solenoid isnot energized. A control passage 50 extends downwardly frorn the valve42 and terminates in a nipple 51 to which control hose 21 is connected.Solenoid valve 42 includes an air inlet passage 52 extending downwardlyfrom the top thereof through a plug 53. The valve member is acylindrical body 48a of a resilient material as rubber, surrounded by asoft iron sleeve 48b. When the solenoid valve is energized, :armature 48is drawn upwardly, opening the yconnection between vacuum passage 47 andcontrol passage 50, and closing air inlet 52. This evacuates cont-rolhose 21. When the solenoid Valve is deenergized, valve member 48 dropsto the position shown closing vacuum passage 47 and :admitting airthrough passage 52, and around the valve member, to the control hose 21.

Pulsator 28 is mounted on a post 55 extending upwardly from the lid ofthe milker 25. The post is received in a recess 56 in the lower surfaceof base block 57 of the pulsator which is secured thereto by a pair ofpins 58 received in a groove 59 :around the post. A resilient ring 60seals the pulsator to the post. Nipple 61 extends outwardly from thebase S7 of the pulsator for connection with vacuum hose 22, establishinga continuous vacuum in the pulsator chamber 62. Nipple 63 extendsoutwardly from the upper portion 64 of the pulsator base, for connectionwith vacuum control hose 21. Pour nipples 65 provide for connections ofthe pulsator hoses 29 to the four teat cups of a milker unit. The valvemember 66, between Vacuum chamber 62 and nipples 65, controls theapplication of vacuum and air to the teat cups.

A valve control diaphragm assembly 69 is mounted on top of upper baseblock member 64. The diaphragm assembly includes top plate- 76, which isrigid and has a generally domed shape. Diaphragm 71 extends across topplate 7i) and is held in place by a bottom or mounting plate 72. Anexpander ring 73 is tted into a groove 74 in the outer edge of diaphragm71 and holds it against the telescoped anges of top plate 70 and bottomplate 72. Valve member 66 is carried by a pin 76 extending downwardlyfrom the center of the diaphragm. Valve member 66 seats on a raised ring78 formed` in the upper portion 64 of the base. Plate Si) mounted on thetop surface of upper block portion 64 has a central opening surroundingthe valve 66 with a depending skirt 81 extending downwardly around thevalve member.

Control nipple 63 is connected through upper block portion 64 with avertically extending tube 83 which projects through an opening 84 indiaphragm 71 into the control space 35 between the diaphragm and topplate 7?. The diaphragm assembly 69 is positioned on the base by tube 83and a positioning pin 86, diametrically spaced with respect to the tube,which extends through an opening 87 in bottom plate 72. A resilientwasher 88 provides a seal between plate t) and the bottom plate 72 ofthe diaphragm assembly. Pulsator valve cover 89 has lingers 89a whichare nturned beneath camming surfaces 80a on the periphery of plate S6.Turning thecover 89 forces it downwardly holding the diaphragm assembly69 tightly against washer $8.

A small air vent 90 is provided in top plate 70 of the diaphragmassembly. An upwardly extending ridge 91 in the top plate prevents thecover from sealing air inlet 9i).

During that portion of the operating cycle when control hose 21 isvented to atmosphere,the control chamber 85 of diaphragm assembly 69 isat atmospheric pressure and valve 66 is held on its annular seat 73 bythe vacuum in chamber 62. `The pulsator nipples 65 are vented toatmosphere through annular space 92 around the valve member, opening 93in bottom plate 72, the space between diaphragm '71 and the bottomplate, and opening 94 in the bottom plate. Cover 89 is not sealed toplate so that the entire spiace around the outside of the diaphragmassembly is at atmospheric pressure. On the alternate portion of thecycle, when control hose 2l is evacuated at control valve 17, the spaceS5 within diaphragm assembly 69 is evacuated. Diaphragm 71 is drawnupwardly lifting valve member 66 off its seat 78 and causing it to seatagainst the at surface 96 of bottom plate 72 surrounding opening 93.With the valve in its upper position, annular space 92 is evacuated andthe vacuum is transmitted directly to the teat cup shells of the milker.

The annular surface S1 which extends downwardly around valve member 66from plate 89 channels the ow of air around the surface of the valvemember tending to draw it downwardly toward its lower position. Thisfunctions as a venturi, aiding in the movement of the valve member toits lower position, contributing to the snappy action of the pulsator.As the control of the vacuum and air to the teat cups takes place at themilker, a desirable snappy inlation action is achieved. rThis would notbe the case if the control valve .17 at the pipeline directly operatedthe inilations, as the long control tube 21 would have to be evacuatedand lled while the inflations were expanding and collapsing. Here, theaction of diaphragm 71 may lag behind that of the control valve;however, the action of the inations themselves is snappy as the valvingaction takes place close to them and only the short tubes 29 and theteat cup shells are evacuated and filled as the valve 0pcrates.

In carry-away milkers, such as that shown in Merritt Patent 2,831,456,it is sometimes desirable to provide a bleeder air inlet to theevacuated milk handling portion of the system. This has the effect ofinhibiting the formation of foam as the milk enters the receivingchamber. With the apparatus of FIGURE 4, milker post 55 has a passage 93therethrough into the milker 2S. Air is admitted into the space 56around the post, through passages 99 and 100. A sleeve 101 is mounted inpulsator base 57 and hasl an opening 102 aligned with passage 100, and asmall metering opening 163 aligned with passage 99. It sometimes happensthat small bits of dirt or other foreign material are drawn into the airinlet by the ow of air therethrough. The bleeder disclosed hereinincludes a cleaning tool or pin 105 mounted for reciprocation in sleeve1 and held in place by a threaded cap 107. Spring 108 holds pinV 105 inthe position shown, Should the air inlet be plugged, pin 10-5 may bemoved inwardly by pressing on thumb piece 110, causing the pin to movethrough opening 103, cleaning it. With this arrangement the operator canclean the air inlet each time the milker is adjusted to a different cowand at other times, if necesary.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of our invention,it is to be understood that it is capable of many modications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and .arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in theappended claims.

We claim:

1. A vacuum operated milker pulsator, comprising: a body having a vacuuminlet, a passage therethrough and an outlet; a valve seat in saidpassage; ya valve control diaphragm assembly on said body, said assemblyhaving a top plate and a diaphragm sealed therewith defining a controlspace; a valve member connected with said diaphragm `and movabletherewith toward and away from said valve seat; an inlet to said controlspa-ce for connection with a source of alternate vacuum and air to movesaid diaphragm with respect to said top plate and said valve withrespect to said valve seat; and a cover removably securing said valvecontrol diaphragm assembly to s-aid body.

2. A vacuum operated milker pulsator, comprising: a body having a cavitytherein to be subjected alternately to air and Vacuum for connectionwith the teat cups of the milker; a vacuum inletv to said cavity; an airinlet to said cavity; valve seat means in said cavity; a valve controldiaphragm assembly on said body, said assembly having a top plate and adiaphragm sealed therewith, de- -ning a control space; a valve memberconnected with said diaphragm and movable therewith toward and away fromsaid valve seat means; means defining an inlet to said control space forconnection with the source of alternate vacuum and air to move saiddiaphragm with respect to said top plate and said valve with respect tosaid valve seat means; and a cover means removably securing said valvecontrol diaphragm assembly to said body.

3. In a milker, a pulsator means of the character described, comprising:a source of continuous vacuum; a source of alternating vacuum and air; avalve at said milker having a control portion and a valved passage underthe control of said control portion, the control portion including adiaphragm forming one wall thereof; a body on which the control portionand diaphragm are assembled; means connecting the valved passage withlthe source of continuous vacuum; means connecting the control portionwith the source of alternating vacuum and air to operate the valve insaid passage; and a cover readily removably securing said controlportion to said body, one of said body and cover having fingers whichare engageable with camming surface-s on the other of said body andcover whereby turning the cover forces it against said control portionand diaphragm holding the control portion and diaphragm tightly on thebody.

4. A vacuum operated milker pulsator, comprising: a body having a vacuuminlet, a passage therethrough and an outlet; .a valve seat in saidpassage; a valve control diaphragm assembly on said body, said assemblyhaving a top plat-e and a diaphragm sealed therewith delining a controlspace; a valve member connected with said diaphragm and movabletherewith toward and away from said valve seat; an inlet to said controlspace for connection with a source of alternate vacuum and air to movesaid diaphragm with respect to said top plate and said valve withrespect to said valve seat; and a cover removably securing said valvecontrol diaphragm assembly to said body, one of said cover and bodyhaving fingers which are engageable with camming surfaces on the otherof said cover and body so that turning of the cover forces it againstsaid diaphragm assembly to hold the assembly tightly on said body.

5. A vacuum operated milker pulsator, comprising: a body having a cavitytherein to be subjected alternately to air and vacuum for connectionwith the teat cups of the milker; a vacuum inlet to said cavity; an airinlet to said cavity; valve seat means in said cavity; a valve controldiaphragm assembly on said body, said assembly having a top plate and adiaphragm sealed therewith, defining a control space; a valve memberconnected with said diaphragm .and movable therewith toward and awayfrom said valve seat means; means dening an inlet to said control spiacefor connection with the source of alternate vacuum and air to move saiddiaphragm with respect to said top plate and said valve with respect tosaid valve seat means; and a cover means removably securing said valvecontrol diaphragm assembly to said body, wherein one of said cover andbody has ngers which are engageable with camming surfaces on the otherof said cover and body so that turning the cover forces it against saidcontrol valve diaphragm assembly to hold the assembly tightly againstsaid body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,646,058 7/1953Thomas 137-103 2,907,345 10/ 1959 Randall 137-625.27 X 3,167,093 1/ 1965George IS7- 625.27

FOREIGN PATENTS 873,099 7/ 1961 Seaborne.

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

A. ROSENTHAL, Assistant Examiner.

1. A VACUUM OPERATED MILKER PULSATOR, COMPRISING: A BODY HAVING A VACUUMINLET, A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH AND AN OUTLET; A VALVE SEAT IN SAIDPASSAGE; A VALVE CONTROL DIAPHRAGM ASSEMBLY ON SAID BODY, SAID ASSEMBLYHAVING A TOP PLATE AND A DIAPHRAGM SEALED THEREWITH DEFINING A CONTROLSPACE; A VALVE MEMBER CONNECTED WITH SAID DIAPHRAGM AND MOVABLETHEREWITH TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID VALVE SEAT; AN INLET TO SAID CONTROLSPACE FOR CONNECTION WITH A SOURCE OF ALTERNATE VACUUM AND AIR TO MOVESAID DIAPHRAGM WITH RESPECT TO SAID TOP PLATE AND SAID VALVE WITHRESPECT TO SAID VALVE SEAT; AND A COVER REMOVABLY SECURING SAID VALVECONTROL DIAPHRAGM ASSEMBLY TO SAID BODY.